Handrail assembly



, Filed Aug. 22, 1960 Sept. 25, 1962 w. w. THOM 3, 55,640

HANDRAIL ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Wenze/ W. Thom firm/was;

Sept. 25, 1962 w. w: THOM 3,055,640 HANDRAIL ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 22,1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Wenze/ W. Thom United States Patent ce3,055,640 HANDRAIL ASSEMBLY Wenzel W. Thom, Wichita, Kans, assignor ofone-half to Cecil D. Jones, Wichita, Kans. Filed Aug. 22, 1960, Ser. No.51,027 9 Claims. (Cl. 256-65) The present invention relates to couplingsfor tubular sections, and more particularly to pipe couplings of thetype used in handrail or guardrail structure or the like.

The present invention has for its most important object, the provisionof a screw member having oppositely threaded portions, whereby after thevertical post of a handrail is fixed in position, the rail section maybe disposed at any desired angle with respect thereto and the screwmember simultaneously threaded into the post and rail section from aposition therebetween to effect inter-- connection of the same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide railingstructure as above described, wherein all of the coupling structure isindependent of the rail section prior to assembly, and which may becoupled with a rail section at any point desired, thereby enabling therailing builder to purchase the rail sections in standard lengths from asupplier, since the same require no special work to adapt the pipe foruse in a railing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a railingstructure wherein the coupling parts used for interconnecting therailings with the upright post, may be completely prefabricated inquantity without regard to any specific stairway, inasmuch as the samemay be used at any desired point in any installation.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide railingstructure as above described, wherein both the rail and the couplingparts may be prefabricated for installation at any construction site,and wherein the railing and upright post may even be pre-bored ifdesired, so that workmen at the site of construction of the railing needno special tools whatsoever for accomplishing the assembly, the onlytool required being a wrench for tightening the coupling.

-It is still another object of the present invention to providestructure as above described wherein means are provided as a part of thecoupling structure which covers the actual threaded coupling member andits related elements such that, when the railing structure is assembled,a smooth, merging, symmetrical surface is presented which will not catchor tear the clothes of a person using the handrail and which furtherwill not l-acerate or injure the hands of a user.

Various other objects of the present invention will become apparent asthe specification progresses, and various modifications and changes maybe made to the present invention without departing from the spiritthereof. Such modifications and changes and additional objects areintended to be covered by the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a stairway andrailing embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view partially in section and partially in elevation, of arailing assembly showing an upright post,

two rail members and the coupling structure embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view through a couplingembodying the present invention;

(FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the coupling parts andfragments of the railing and upright post, showing the method ofassembly; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through a fitting of the kind shown inFIG. 4 showing details of construction thereof.

Referring now to' the drawings, in FIG. 1 a stairway 3,055,640 PatentedSept. 25, 1962 is shown provided with a railing unit or assemblyindicated generally by the numeral 12. Railing assembly 12 includes afirst upright post 14 and a second upright post 16. Post 16 is spacedlaterally and downwardly relative to post 14 due to the construction ofstairway 10.

A first handrail 18 is provided which is coupled (not shown) to theupright posts 14 and 16, and extends in an inclined positiontherebetween. A similar lower handrail 20 is provided, coupled with theposts 14 and 16 in a like manner. A central rail, composed of a firstrail section 22 and a second rail section 24, is provided intermediatethe first handrail 18 and second handrail 20, the rail sections 22 and24 being illustrated to show that successive sections 22 and 24 may becoupled to provide a continuous, long handrail. This is usually done byplacing the ends of two sections, such as sections 22 and 24, inabutting relationship as shown and providing a plug extending into therespective abutting ends of the sections in a well-known manner notherein shown. The ends of each of the rail sections which are normallyopen, and the top ends of the vertical posts 14 and 16, are providedwith end caps 26 which not only artistically finish oi the rail, butpresent smooth surfaces to the hands of a user.

In FIG. 2, a vertical post 28 is shown, together with fragments oftransverse rail sections identified by the numerals 30 and 32. In thisillustration, coupling means indicated generally by the numeral 34, areshown for interconnecting upright post 28 with rail fragments 30 and 32.

In FIG. 3, for purposes of clarity of illustration, an upright post 36is fragmentarily shown in cross section, connected by a coupling 34 to arail member 38 indicated in cross section which is disposed in a offsetangular relationship to the post fragment 36.

By referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 together, it may be seen that upright post36 and transverse rail 38, are provided respectively with openings 40and 42. A pair of fittings 44 and 46 are provided respectively foropenings 40 and 42, and the same may be seen by referring to FIGS. 4 and5, to be generally cylindrical in shape. -For purposes of description,only the fitting 44 will be fully described, and it is to be understoodthat fitting 46 is identical with fitting 44.

The cylindrical surface of fitting 44 is provided with a knurled portion48 extending longitudinally thereof from one end, a raised portion 50extending longitudinally thereof from the other end and a shoulder 52separating knurled portion 48 from raised portion 50. Fitting 44 isfurther provided with cuts 5'4 and 56 extending longitudinally intoknurled portion 48, the cuts being disposed in planes running throughthe longitudinal axis of fitting 44. Cuts 54 and 56' terminate in spacedrelationship to shoulder 52 and in the particular illustratedembodiment, divide the knurled portion 48 into quadrant end segments 58,60, 62 and 64. Fitting 44 is further provided with a threaded axialopening 66 extending longitudinally therethrough from the end of fitting44 surrounded by raised portion 50. Threaded axial opening 66 terminatesat its point of juncture with cuts 54 and 56 in a taperingfrusto-conical cam surface 68 which in turn joins with cuts 54 and 56.It may, therefore, be seen that when a threaded member is inserted intothe axial opening 66, it will progressively threadably engage thefitting, contacting the cam surface. 68 to spread the end segments 58,60, 62 and 64.

Referring again to the structure of FIGS. 3 and 4, it may be seen thatif the knurled end 48 of fitting 44 is inserted into opening 40, theshoulder 52 will engage the I An elongated screw member 70 is providedfor interconnecting the fittings 44 and 46 after the latter have beenemplaced in post 36 and rail 38. Screw member 70 consists of a centralpolygonal section 72, and oppositely extending, oppositely threadedscrew portions 74- and 76. It may now be seen that screw member 70 maybe placed between a post 36 and rail 38, and simultaneously threadablyengaged with the latter by simply turning the screw member 70 bycoupling a tool used for that purpose with the central polygonal section72.

It should be pointed out at this point, that if desired, the openings 40and 42 may be threaded to receive the screw member 70, therebydispensing with the necessity for fittings 44 and 46, if such isdesired. Also, while the use of such structure in a handrail for joiningan upright post with a transverse rail, is the particular embodiment ofthe present invention chosen for illustration, the same couplingstructure could equally well be used to couple two rail members orsections, neither of which is fixed at the time of coupling.

It should be further understood at this point that although the post andrail sections illustrated, are all shown to be cylindrical in theembodiments illustrated, the sections could be square or any othertubular section. Further, solid rail and post sections could be used ifdesired, simply by tapping the same to receive a screw member 70 if suchproved desirable.

In order to provide a symmetrical covering for the coupling tructurethus far described, a generally cylindrical tightener sleeve 78 may beprovided having an opening 80 extending axially therethrough which iscomplemental in cross section to central section 72 of screw member 70.Tightener 78 may be telescoped over screw member 70 into interengagingrelationship with the central section 72 thereof, and because of thecomplemental shapes of the central section 72 and the opening 80,relative rotational movement between tightener 78 and screw member 70,will be prevented. As shown at 82, tightener 78 may have its outercylindrical surface adapted to receive a spanner wrench or other similarhand tool, so that when the tightener 78 is in place on central section72, rotation of tightener 78 by an appropriate hand tool, will alsorotate screw member 70. In the particular embodiment illustrated,tightener 78 is provided with shoulders 84 and 86 at each end, having asmaller diameter than the central portion 88. The reasons for shoulders84 and 86 will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In order to further provide the symmetrical surface previously describedas being desirable, a pair of frustoconical copings 90 and 92 may beprovided for telescoping assembly over the threaded portions 74 and 76of screw members 70, and over the portions of fittings 44 and 46 whichprotrude from pipe 36 and rail 38 when the coupling is assembled.

Copings 90 and 92 have a diameter at one end the same as the diameter ofcentral portion 88 of tightener 78, the diameter of the copings 90 and92 increasing as the opposite end of the coping is approached. Copings90 and 92 are provided with openings 94 and 96 extending axiallytherethrough. Openings 94 and 96 are of sufficient diameter to receivethe raised portions 50 of fittings 44 and 46. The ends of the copings 90and 92 which have the same diameter as central portion 88 of tightener78, are disposed when the coupling is assembled, on opposite sides ofthe tightener 78 and copings 90 and 92 are provided with enlargedrecesses 98 and 160 for receiving shoulders 84 and 86 of tightener 78.

The ends of copings 90 and 92 remote from tightener 78, are concave asat 102 and 104 in the embodiment shown for purposes of mergingsymmetrically with the cylindrical exterior surface of post 36 and rail38. It should, of course, be understood that the formation of the endsof the frusto-conical sections which are remote from tightener 78, maybe varied dependent upon the shape of the post and rail members to beengaged.

It may now be seen that the copings and 92 may be emplaced about thethreaded portions 74 and 76 of screw member 70 on opposite sides oftightener 78 and with the shoulders 84- and 86 of tightener 78 receivedin the recesses 98 and of copings 90 and 92. The threaded portions 74and 76 of screw member 70 may then be threadably engaged with fittings44 and 46 and tightener 78 may be rotated to join the post 36 and rail38. As the coupling is drawn up tight, the post 36 and rail 38 will bereceived in the concavities 102 and 104 of copings 90 and 92 and theentire coupling arrangement will, by virtue of the presence and shape oftightener 78 and copings 98 and 92, have a smooth symmetrical surfaceand appearance. Naturally, the shoulders 84 and 86 and the recesses 98and 100 above described, could be eliminated and the copings 9i) and 92simply tightened into abutting relationship with tightener 78 if suchwas desirable.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A handrail assembly comprising a first pipe section having an openingtherein; a second pipe section having an opening therein; fitting meansfixedly retained in each of said opeings, said fitting means each havinga threaded opening therethrough; an elongated screw member having acentral section and oppositely extending, oppositely threaded screwsections whereby said screw member may be simultaneously threadablyengaged with said fitting means for coupling said pipe sections in anydesired angular relationship; a tightener having an opening therethroughcomplemental to said central section of said screw member, saidtightener telescopingly receiving said central section of said screwmember to prevent relative rotation of said screw member and saidtightener and thereby to rotate said screw member when said tightener isrotated; and a pair of coping means having openings therethrough, saidcoping means being telescoped over said fitting means and correspondingscrew sections at the ends of said tightener whereby when said tightenerand screw member are rotated to tighten said pipe sections together inany desired angular relationship, said coping means are clamped betweensaid tightener and respective pipe sections in covering relationship tosaid fitting means and screw member.

2. A handrail assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tighteneris generally cylindrical and said coping means are generallyfrusto-conical whereby when said coping means and said tightener areclamped between said pipe sections, a symmetrical covering surface ispresented over said fitting means and said screw member.

3. A handrail assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said tighteneris provided with shoulders of reduced diameter at each end thereof andthe respective coping means are provided with complemental,shoulder-receiving, axial recesses at the ends of the same facing saidtightener, said coping means having concave pipe-receiving surfaces attheir respective ends remote from said tightener whereby, when saidcoping means and said tightener are clamped between said pipe sections,said tightener shoulders fit within said coping recesses and said pipeis received in said concave pipe-receiving surfaces, thereby forming asmooth, merging, symmetrical coupling.

4. A handrail assembly including an elongated, normally upright firstsection; a second elongated section; and connector means securing thesecond section to the first section in spaced relationship therefrom,said connector means including an elongated screw member having oppositely threaded portions extending from opposed extremities of themember toward the central part thereof, said threaded portions of themember extending into the first and second sections respectively,tightener means surrounding said central part of the member and slidablelongitudinally of the latter, said central part of the member and saidtightener means having mutually cooperable, interengageable meansthereon for preventing substantial relative rotation therebetween, andcover means around the member between said tightener means thereon andproximal, opposed surfaces of the sections whereby the first and secondsections may be disposed in any desired relative angular relationshipand fixedly maintained in such relationship by rotation of the tightenermeans in a direction to thread said portions of the member intocorresponding sections until the cover means are tightly clamped betweenthe tightener means and opposed surfaces of the sections.

5. A handrail assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first andsecond sections are of tubular configuration and each provided with aside wall having an opening therein for removably receiving a respectivethreaded portion of said member.

6. A handrail assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein is providedfitting means positioned within each of said openings in the first andsecond sections, said fitting means each having a threaded boretherethrough complementally receiving respective threaded portions ofthe member.

7. A handrail assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fittingmeans includes a generally cylindrical element having a threaded axialopening therethrough, the exterior surface of said element having aknurled portion extending longitudinally thereof from one end of thesame, a raised portion extending longitudinally thereof from the otherend of the same and a shoulder separating said raised and knurledportions, said element being provided with slots therein extendinglongitudinally into said knurled portion from said one end forming endsegments permitting the spreading of said one end, said slots beingdisposed in planes running through the longitudinal axis of saidelement, said slots terminating in spaced relation to said shoulderwhereby when the knurled end of said element is inserted into a tubularsection, said shoulder abuts said tubular section, said knurled portionfrictionally engages the margins of said opening and said end segmentsmay be spread, fixing said element against axial and rotational movementin respective openings in the sections.

8. A handrail assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said central partof the member is generally polygonal in cross section, and the tightenermeans is provided with a polygonal passage therethrough complementalwith the exterior surface of said central part of the screw member, saidtightener means being provided with means for receiving a tool forrotating said tightener means and thereby said screw member.

9. A handrail assembly comprising a first pipe section having an openingtherein; a second pipe section having an opening therein; and connectormeans securing the second section to the first section in spacedrelationship therefrom, said connector means including an elongatedscrew member having oppositely threaded portions extending from opposedextremities of the member toward the central part thereof, said threadedportions of the member extending into corresponding openings in thefirst and second sections respectively, a tightener surrounding saidcentral part of the member and slidable longitudinally of the latter,said central part of the member and said tightener having mutuallycooperable, interengageable, generally polygonal surfaces thereon forpreventing substantial relative rotation therebetween, and a pair ofcopings slidably mounted on said threaded portions of the tightener andprovided with opposed, outwardly facing end surfaces thereon adapted tocomplementally engage opposed proximal surfaces of the first and secondsections respectively whereby the first and second sections may bedisposed in any desired relative angular relationship and fixedlymaintained in such relationship by rotation of the tightener in adirection to cause said portions of the member to move intocorresponding sections until the copings are tightly clamped between thetightener and opposed surfaces of the sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,703,724 Der Yuen et a1 Mar. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,181,458 FranceIan. 12, 1959

